USSOCOM Marks 25th Anniversary

April 25, 1980, was a defining moment for Special Operations as the tragic news of the failed Desert One mission became known that day. President Jimmy Carter announced a secret rescue mission for the Iranian hostages had failed; eight American servicemen were dead and several others were seriously injured.

Desert One

The tragedy at Desert One, problems with the Grenada invasion and failure to fix the Special Operations joint mobility issues led Congress to pass the Nunn-Cohen Amendment, mandating that the President create a unified combatant command for special operations with control over its own resources.

The U.S. Special Operations Command was formed April 16, 1987, with responsibility to organize, train and equip U.S. Special Operations Forces from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Gen. James Lindsay became U.S. Special Operations Command’s first commander and served as such from 1987-1990.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller received the medal posthumously for his actions battling a numerically superior force in Konar Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 25, 2008

Last, Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry was presented the medal for brave actions in the Paktya Province, Afghanistan, May 26, 2008.

USSOCOM responsibilities have significantly evolved from its original train and equip mission of SOF to the lead combatant commander for planning, synchronizing, and, as directed, executing global operations against terrorist networks.

About the Author

Jack Murphy
is an eight year Army Special Operations veteran who served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant on a Military Free Fall team in 5th Special Forces Group.
Having left the military in 2010, he graduated from Columbia with a BA in political science. Murphy is the author of Reflexive Fire, Target Deck, Direct Action, and numerous non-fiction articles about Weapons, Tactics, Special Operations, Terrorism, and Counter-Terrorism. He has appeared in documentaries, national television, and syndicated radio.

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John Meyer

@JackMurphyRGR Right you are, Sgt. Murphy.
It took the tragedy of Desert One and an act of Congress eight years later to give the US the SF Regiment because the traditional Army had screwed SF for so long in so many ways and continues to do so today.
The LRRPs have a proud history and some brilliant writers who have documented their tours of duty in Nam.
Write on.

JackMurphyRGR

@John Meyer It is certainly interesting to trace the history of SOCOM and where it came from. I think you have to look at Vietnam era Special Forces, SEALs, Force Recon, and to some extent the LRRPs many of whom went on to stand up the 75th. In Vietnam you also have to take a close look at Son Tay raid and B-52 which led into Delta Force or at least had an influence. I suppose the next game changer was Desert One.

John Meyer

Thank you Jack for another outstanding story.
I'm writing this note 37 years after the Fall of Saigon, a date that haunts many Vietnam veterans.
John Meyer

John Meyer

Thank you Jack for another outstanding story.
I'm writing this note 37 years after the Fall of Saigon, a date that haunts many Vietnam veterans.
John Meyer

Old PH2

A Few years ago I read "The Guts to Try" written by Col.James H. Kyle lots of detail on Eagle Claw. I picked up some information anecdotally from friends that where on the USS Nimitz during this mission. Just like when I was on IKE they transited Suez then proceeded through the Red Sea. Supposedly they would recover the C-130's that made it. My buddies where assigned to VF-84 an F-14 sqdrn at the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RH-53Ds_fly_over_USS_Nimitz_April_1980.JPEG
Since then,I've had the opportunity to meet Mr. Carter, an ex-USN Submariner. I have to admit that although I do not agree with many of the things he has done since, with Eagle Claw he made the right call. Too bad the shit went south, would have been a major coup, and confidence builder for the US armed forces after Vietnam.